SA’s best performers at the Australian All Schools track and field championships

SA’s brightest young athletes shined at the Australian All Schools Championships in Adelaide over the weekend. From broken records to new personal bests, see the state’s top performances.

The Australian All Schools Championships returned over the weekend, with the nation’s best young athletes competing for gold at Adelaide’s newly renovated SA Athletics Stadium from Friday to Sunday.

South Australia tallied 54 medals to finish fourth out of every state, with a number of local athletes dominating in their preferred events.

From big names to rising young guns, we’ve got the best performers from the meet.

CHARLOTTE MCAULIFFE – 400M

Charlotte McAuliffe during the 4x100m relay. The rising star had an outstanding meet. Picture: Athletics SA

McAuliffe pulled off one of the upsets of the meet for South Australia, winning the U16 women’s 400m sprint title.

The talented multi eventer ran a personal best 54.50 to beat the highly favoured Ivy Boothroyd of NSW.

“I’m so happy with that race. I didn’t expect anything coming in so I am super thrilled,” McAuliffe said of her win.

THOMAS GRIFFITHS – 200M

Thomas Griffiths had a dominant championships, becoming Rostrevor's fastest sprinter over 100m in its history. Picture: Rostrevor College

Griffiths had an exceptional championships, most notably taking out the U17 men’s 200m gold with a time of 21.51.

His time was a personal best and was 0.06 seconds off of the meet record.

He also won silver in the 100m sprint, running 10.99.

MARLEY RAIKIWASA – Shot put

Champion SA and Australia runner Jess Stenson with discus athlete Marley Raikiwasa and runner Tessa Ebert before the championships.Picture: Tom Huntley

Raikiwasa was at her best during the All Schools Championships, the throwing machine dominating to win multiple golds.

Her best performance came in the U18 women’s shot put, the World Athletics U20 Championships representative throwing a state record 16.88m to win gold.

ILUKA-ROSE TAYLOR – 400M

Iluka-Rose Taylor broke a 33-year state record in the 400m hurdles. Picture: Athletics SA

In one of the achievements of the championships, SA’s Iluka-Rose Taylor ran 56.17 in the U15 women’s 400m sprint to break Kim Nankivell’s state record set in 1989.

The feat came 33 years to the day of Nankivell’s run and marked SA’s first gold medal of day two.

“I felt great. I’m really happy with the time,” Taylor said.

“The 400m is my favourite event – it’s just a fantastic race because it’s longer and the order can change at any time.”

ANGUS HINCKSMAN – Para 800M

Angus Hincksman continued his hot start to the 2022-2023 season over the weekend. Picture: Athletics SA

Expected to dominate para distance events leading into the All Schools, Hiuncksman did just that.

While the rising gun was aiming for a time under two minutes, a 2:02.02 finish in the U20 800m was more than enough for gold.

The medal added to a strong start to Hincksman’s 2022-2023 season.

CHELSEA FRIEDRICH – High jump

Friedrich backed up her performance at the National Track and Field Championships earlier this year, topping fellow SA star Tryphena Hewett to win the U18 women’s high jump.

Friedrich cleared 1.79m to take first place in an impressive display.

GEORGIE FIELDER – 200M hurdles

Fielder’s performance in the U15 women’s 200m hurdles was one of the highlights of the meet’s opening day for South Australia.

The promising sprinter led from start to finish in the event and posted a time of 28.36 – a new U16 state record.

KEN FERRANTE TANIKAWA – 90M hurdles

Ken Ferrante Tanikawa (left) with Iluka-Rose Taylor. He won gold and set a new state record in the All Schools. Picture: Woodville Little Athletics

Star multi eventer Ferrante Tanikawa achieved gold in the U14 men’s pole vault with a height of 3.20m but his bigger feat came in the U14 men’s 90m hurdles.

Tanikawa won bronze in the event but finished with a time of 12.38, breaking a 17-year-old state record previously set by Jonathon Wilkins in 2005.